For episode 121 of Tendy Talk presented by the BLPA Podcast Network and The Hockey Podcast Network, I chat with the son of NHL Hall of Famer Mike Vernon's son Matt, the goalie for the ECHL Jacksonville Icemen. We chat about his start in hockey, why he went the college route, and his current life in the ECHL. Be sure to follow Matt on social media a…

For episode 120 of Tendy Talk presented by the BLPA Podcast Network and The Hockey Podcast Network, I chat with Latvian-born Nashville Preditors and Milwaukee Admirals prospect Gustavs Grigals who is playing in the ECHL for the Atlanta Gladiators. In the episode we chat about his early years playing in Latvia, what brought him to North America, and…

For episode 118 of Tendy Talk presented by the BLPA Podcast Network and The Hockey Podcast Network, I chat with goalie mask painting legend Frank Cipra of Cipra Designs. Frank has painted some of the iconic masks such as Curtis Joseph's Cujo masks, Ray LeBlanc's 1992 Team USA Olympic mask, Rick DiPietro's veteran appreciation mask, and Jeff Hackett…

For episode 118 of Tendy Talk presented by the BLPA Podcast Network and The Hockey Podcast Network, I chat with GGSU admin, Florida hockey resident, and descent guy despite what the comments on GGSU says Louis Molina. Be sure to follow Louii on social media and enjoy the episode YouTube | The Thin Red Line The music on this podcast is courtesy of T…

For episode 117 of Tendy Talk presented by the BLPA Podcast Network and The Hockey Podcast Network, I chat with Scott Kennedy, an ACHA college hockey goalie from Colorado. Be sure to follow Scott on social media and enjoy the episode Instagram https://www.instagram.com/s_kennedy35 The music on this podcast is courtesy of The Zambonis. (http://theza…

For episode 115 of Tendy Talk presented by the BLPA Podcast Network and The Hockey Podcast Network, I chat with Former Western Michigan and Providence College goalie Austin Cain about choosing to play college hockey in the US, transferring schools, and so much more. Be sure to follow Austin on social media and enjoy the episode Instagram Twitter Th…

For episode 115 of Tendy Talk presented by the BLPA Podcast Network and The Hockey Podcast Network, I chat with 5-time Stanley Cup winner and Hockey Hall of Fame member Grant Fuhr. We chat about how Grant got started in the position, how he ended up being a full-right goalie and practicing with some of the greats of the game. Be sure to follow Gran…

In this episode, Danielle Wallace, Chief Learning Strategist of Beyond the Sky Custom Learning, shares her perspective on the practical application of AI in L&D. We chatted about the evolving use of AI in L&D, the importance of staying updated with AI advancements, and practical tips for integrating AI into learning experiences. We also touched on …

Today, we're thrilled to have the extraordinary Rebecca Prejean joining us. Rebecca is a seasoned freelance instructional designer with over 12 years of experience. And not just an ID and learning strategist but also a passionate advocate for neurodivergent learners, helping companies create accessible and inclusive learning experiences. In this ep…

Today, we're excited to have Leigh Ann Morgan joining us in a new Member Showcase - her second as a TLDC Member. Leigh Ann is a dynamic, "wear many hats" instructional design professional, bringing a unique blend of expertise from her diverse backgrounds in nutrition, dietetics, and cosmetology. She's not only an educator at heart but also a visual…

The health and wellness of Latinas is crucial to the health and wellbeing of the U.S. economy. In 100 Latina Birthdays, an original documentary series from Peabody-nominated LWC Studios, reporters in Chicago investigate the health and lifetime outcomes of Latinas in the United States from birth to age 100. In season 1, the stories that unfold cente…

You know, there are some people you feel you've known forever, even if it's only been a short while. Cyndi Nagel is one of those for me. Her vibrant presence in the community and her consistently insightful contributions to TLDC conversations have always stood out. Today, I'm thrilled to share our one-on-one chat. Dive into Cyndi's captivating stor…

I was surprised to see that the last time we'd spoken to Vanessa Alzate was back in 2019. Back then, I knew Vanessa more as a freelancer and Youtuber, doing things differently than what's typical in L&D. And now in 2023, Vanessa has a booming L&D Agency with a fantastic team, AND also recently acquired Kirkpatrick Partners, whose Founder, Don Kirkp…

A talk with a family friend about our Father Vincent Grant

I feel like the Founders of IDLance, Parker Grant and Andrea Dottling, have many similar approaches to how they nurture their community as I do here with TLDC. And it's probably why I enjoy talking with them so much. Just one look at their website at idlance.com gives you a sense of their witty and informal approach. And also how focused they are o…

With over 30 years experience in L&D, and 20 years of that focused on distance learning, Chris Paxton McMillin is the perfect modern day instructional designer. There isn't much she hasn't seen in this industry, and she's at a point where sharing her knowledge is how she wants to give back. Chris has shared a few times with TLDC before, and I encou…

The Spamming of Certification. Sounds like a big problem, right? Absolutely. But there's a tremendous opportunity for L&D here and we were lucky enough to have Bobbi Losee Vernon in this TLDCast to break down this concept and help us understand why this is such an important topic. As the gatekeeper to knowledge in the workplace, its important for L…

Theresa Francomacaro is always wonderful to talk with. She's had a few guest appearances on TLDC in the past, and like those episodes, Theresa again offers valuable advice to instructional designers and L&D professionals. Think Story is important to your career? Definitely. Is Story important to your learners, your SMEs, and your stakeholders? The …

What an honor it was to talk to Terry Godfrey in our latest Showcase episode. Terry's been an L&D professional for over thirty years and has been a trainer in diverse sectors such as chemicals, distribution, bio-diesel fuels, natural gas, and fertilizers. So needless to say, he's seen a lot. And interestingly, he mentioned he nearly canceled our sh…

In February 2022, the Josiah Henson Museum and Park partnered with the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Historic Site and the Frederick Douglass National Historic Site to put together a virtual re-enacted first-person conversation between these three historical figures. They discuss early life experiences, how they fought their way to f…

Cities around the country have started piloting guaranteed income programs aimed at addressing income inequality–an issue that disproportionately impacts Black and brown families. In this episode, we explore the policy implications of guaranteed income programs and whether they could function as a bridge to reparations. We hear from Dr. Cheryl Gril…

Eatonville, Florida was the first Black town in the U.S. to incorporate. Originally thought of as a “test case” to see if Blacks could govern themselves, Eatonville became a model for Black towns that sprung up around the country after the Civil War. The historic legacy of the town now hangs in the balance as development threatens to pave over hist…

In this episode, series creator and co-editor Juleyka Lantigua, shares a deeply personal and relevant story. While driving through her neighborhood, she notices that street signs have been changed and decides to research the new name, Josiah Henson. She discovers that Josiah Henson was an influential figure in Black history, born into slavery in Ma…

Mia Anderson is the great-great-great-great-granddaughter of Reverend Josiah Henson. She shares her family's knowledge and admiration for Henson's legacy, which includes helping enslaved individuals escape and establishing the Dawn Settlement, a place where freed Blacks could learn trades and rebuild their lives. She also addresses the controversy …

In this episode, Mark Thorne, the Historic Site Manager for the Josiah Henson Museum and Park, explores the life and journey of Reverend Josiah Henson, a remarkable figure in Black history who emerged as one of the great abolitionists of his era. Henson, a contemporary of Frederick Douglass and Harriet Tubman, played a significant role in freeing n…

Every Black and Brown parent dreads having “the talk” with their children. It is a dreaded right of passage that signals a loss of innocence for their sons in order to protect them from a system that targets them. Darrin Bell is an acclaimed cartoonist, author, and commentator. In his graphic memoir, The Talk, he illustrates his own encounters with…

Cynthia Vernón grew up in the segregated South of New Orleans, Louisiana. In the 1960s, after graduating from Xavier University, she applied for a job at NASA’s Data Processing Center in Slidell. She became the first Black employee driving programming for Chrysler’s data engineers. She’d never seen a mainframe computer before, but she studied the m…

Chanel Porchia-Albert wants Black mothers to be able to fully center themselves in the joy of childbirth. With Black women facing the highest rate of maternal death, Porchia-Albert explores the issues that have contributed to the abysmal numbers and the reasons behind them. The Founder and Executive Director of Ancient Song Doula services, she disc…

John Boyd Jr. is the civil rights leader you’ve never heard of. For decades, he’s been fighting the U.S. government’s discrimination against Black farmers like himself, securing billions for them to keep their lands–and keep the legacy of Black people in agriculture alive. It’s a legacy that traces back to slavery, when Black Americans built the ag…

This episode explores the historical erasure and appropriation of Black musicians and songwriters. Mark Anthony Neal, Chair of the African & African American Studies Department at Duke University, explains how Black artists were often exploited, denied proper credit, and overshadowed by white artists who covered their songs. It also traces the orig…

In July 1965, police officer Edward Nugent encountered John Wesley Wilder, a Black man, outside a cafe in Ruston, Louisiana. Nugent shot Wilder five times, resulting in his death. Local authorities deemed it a justifiable homicide, and subsequent investigations in 1965 did not bring justice or closure to Wilder's family. In 2008, legislation introd…

Wilmington, North Carolina was once home to a thriving middle class Black population. In 1898, the only successful coup d’état in American history put a stop to it. Alex Manly was part of that elite Black community. An editorial he printed in his newspaper, The Daily Record, was the catalyst for the violence, and Manly was run out of town by a grou…

Arthur Davis died on June 30, 1950, but the details surrounding his death raised questions about what really happened to him. His story was buried for years, until his grandson started investigating. Through family oral history, neighbor accounts, and troves of documents, Reginald Crawford was finally able to piece together how his grandfather died…

In this Community Member Showcase, we talked with Taylor Akioka, an Instructional Designer working at Allstate Insurance. What stands out the most about this conversation with Taylor was how much she loves her job and her team. As a lifetime learner and passionate educator, finding L&D as a career path was the perfect fit. And even better, it seems…

“Still Paying the Price: Reparations in Real Terms” is a 14-part series exploring how reparations should be paid and to whom. Original score by Kojin Tashiro. Cover art: "Gemini" by Fitgi Saint-Louis. For more information, all episodes, and transcripts visit StillPayingThePricePod.com. This series was funded by a grant from The John D. and Catherin…

In this episode I talked to Sylvia Cherry, Founder of Cherry Learning Coach, LLC and an L&D veteran of over twenty years. We had a surprisingly lengthy conversation that didn't feel long at all; the time went by quick. Maybe it was the quality of her responses or how insightful Sylvia was, but more than anything, I knew I was speaking to someone wh…

Danielle Gines is an experienced L&D professional in the nonprofit world, and in this Member Showcase, she shared insights about her career and the challenges of that sector. We haven't had many guests that work in nonprofits, so it was interesting exploring some of the challenges Danielle regularly overcomes. We talked about how she began working …

Melissa Shoemate is an up and coming Instructional Designer, currently working as a clinical trainer and wrapping up her Bachelor's degree. I really loved listening to Melissa's story and admire the passion and ambition she has for achieving her career goals. The conversation reminded me that it's not just the successful L&D veterans that can inspi…

Skye Suttie was a super fun conversation. I can understand why she's the "go to" person in her organization for anything facilitation and instructional design, but I can imagine she's probably pulled in to lots of projects because of her charisma. Learn more about Skye in this episode, she's sure to be someone you'll want in your network.…

One of THE most consistent challenges I've seen ID's face is tackling graphic design. But that's definitely not the case with our latest guest, Jennifer Grimes. Jennifer is a graphic designer turned instructional designer, with her own agency, Nektar Design. She also serves as adjunct faculty in the graphic design department of the Cleveland Instit…

Dr Heather Herstine is a long time participant in online learning, both as a learner and instructor. And in her journey, she's managed to create a career that she really enjoys, now working as an instructional designer and producer at Cinecraft, one of L&D's most innovative and creative companies. The conversation was compelling and her path a grea…

ATD ICE (Association for Talent Development International Conference & Exposition) is one of the premier events in the instructional design and training world. It gathers professionals from across the globe to share insights, best practices, and the latest innovations in the field. But does it truly provide value for instructional designers seeking…

Tristia Hennessey is an award-winning eLearning developer from the Pacific Northwest and has a passion for immersive learning, VR, and AR. And interestingly enough, that love for immersive learning stems from her love of travel; she studied abroad for a number of years and learned first hand the power of immersion as a learning experience. So check…

We had a great conversation with Maisha L Cannon in this episode. It's not often we get to chat with recruiters or sourcers in our showcases, so this one has a unique flavor to it. And not just that, Maisha is dynamic, has a compelling background, definitely a lifelong learner, and endlessly curious about tech - she's already using AI tools in how …

In this showcase, Liz Stefan, co-founder and CEO of Nifty Learning, shares her journey in the learning and development field. Liz discusses how she got started and the inspiration behind the name of her company. Liz also highlights key traits and priorities for L&D professionals, and details how her automation and operations skills enhance her role…

In this episode, we talked with Ian Crook, an experienced L&D professional based in Bristow, VA. Ian knowingly wanted to use the click baitey title "Why Training Teams Are A Waste!" because he knows this audience and has a great sense of humor. But all joking aside, talking with him reveals his passion for sharing why training teams are a critical …

In this episode, we talked with Amanda Davison in our latest Community Member Showcase. Amanda went from Anthropology and Archaelogy to a Masters in Education, which ultimately led her to corporate training. Previously in the construction industry, she is now working in the travel space as a Learning Specialist, with a variety of learning responsib…

Laurel will share her lived experiences in leadership challenges and successes at a major tech company. She will also share strategies for female leaders on how to define a team vision, build and lead a diverse, inclusive team, and successfully coach and retain team members. She will focus on strategies to move from survival to thriving as a leader…

Eleanor Roosevelt said, “No one can make you feel inferior with your consent.” What about you? Are you consenting to feel inferior? Do you truly know your own worth – personally and professionally? Kassy LaBorie and Betty Dannewitz candidly share their own journeys to finding their worth, to work according to their own rules, and to believing in th…

In this panel, host Mallori Steele and guests Carolyn Dumont, Courtney Teague, and Nora Pykkonnen share their stories of how they overcame barriers to entry to become L&D leaders. From inspiration to doubt, finding mentorship and networking, nurturing growth, learning, and self-reflection --- it's all covered in this excellent panel.…